A sea of yellow toques poured out from City Hall and flowed down Eramosa Road Saturday afternoon during the fifth annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk organized by Lakeside HOPE House.
“We had between 275 and 300 people this year,” said HOPE House director Jaya James. “We know that because we had 250 light lanyards to give to people and we ran out.”
It will take about two weeks to process all the pledges and confirm an official total but James was confident they had surpassed the previous record of $64,000 raised in 2015.
“There was $63,000 raised by the start of the walk,” she said. “We will definitely be over $70,000.”
Walkers had three options, 2 km, 5 km and 10 km. The longest route went from City Hall, through downtown and along Eramosa Road to the offices of Sutherland Insurance on Victoria Road.
Members from 42 teams gathered in the atrium at City Hall before the walk to register and pick up their route maps, toques and light lanyards.
Among them was the chair of the board for HOPE House, Gord Barr, his father Peter and daughter Jessica.
“I am taking my Dad this year,” said Barr. “He is 81 and he inspired me to get involved with HOPE House.”
Barr was the captain for two teams, Cold Feet Warm Heart and Todd Is At The Beach, that together raised $12,000.
“This is the best turnout we’ve had both in participants and funds raised,” he said. “The organizers did a fabulous job. We hope to surpass this next year.”
Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield joined the walk and spoke during the opening ceremonies.
“There are 111 communities across Canada doing this today,” said Longfield. “We are doing something remarkable by doing something ordinary.”
Those words rang true for Jennifer Schneider who has done the walk three years in a row and was seriously injured in a car accident shortly after the walk last year.
“I will be running this year,” said Schneider. “It is helping me train for the Boston Marathon. I am a recovering addict and without Hope House I wouldn’t be here.”
Schneider left her infant daughter Adelyn Grace in the care of Lindsay Duncan, development and communications lead for Hope House and her mother Sandra McLarnon who took turns pushing the baby carriage during their 5km walk.
Guelph Police Chief Jeff DeRuyter also completed the 5km walk.
“This is a great cause and we really want to show our support for the positive work HOPE House does for the homeless in our community,” said DeRuyter. “Frankly, it makes our work a lot easier.”
At the end of the walk people gathered in the basement at Lakeside HOPE House on Norfolk Street to share their experiences and enjoy a bowl of warm chili.
James was there to hear their stories and thank everyone for their support.
“One of our walkers got an $85 donation while she was walking,” said James.
She said she was a little concerned early in the campaign as pledges trickled in but that changed as the day of the event grew closer.
“Most people didn’t register until February,” she said. “We picked up eight teams in the last week and Friday, the day before the walk was the best day. We raised $10,000 in one day.”
To make a donation or learn more about HOPE House visit their website at www.lakesidehopehouse.ca.
